"Surgeon questioned my honesty"

After suffering an episode of anal bleeding I was referred by my GP to the Sunderland Royal Hospital general surgery. I attended my appointment with some trepidation as the possibility of bowel cancer is worrying.

At first the surgeon asked me what I was doing there after only one episode of bleeding, so I told them I had been referred (which I thought they should have known). After asking a few more questions said they thought I was lying about the number of episodes, to get out of a further investigation (colonoscopy I presume). After an examination they said they would " give me the benefit of the doubt" and discharged me without any explanation or further conversation.

I have attended a number of other departments as I suffer from type 1 diabetes and have nothing but admiration for the services I have received there, however after this particular visit to general surgery I felt insulted, belittled and hurt by a surgeon.

I know this type of behaviour is not common in this hospital and I would hate to see it repeated with someone else.